Follow the author of this article

Follow the topics within this article

2,200 miles (or thereabouts) of road, slogging up and down mountains, in the sweltering French summer: it's little wonder than the Tour de France is known to be one of the toughest endurance tests of man. But what if you decided to do it not on a bicycle, but on foot?

It may sound mad, but that's exactly what long-distance runner Peter Thompson is planning to do. Setting off on the May 19, Thompson, 33, will attempt to run 30 miles per day for 70 days along the official course, with the aim of finishing before the Tour de France proper starts. The Bournemouth-based runner is raising money and awareness for mental health charity Mind and disability charity Livability; his campaign is dubbed 'Marathons for the Mind'.

Thompson's path to the challenge, including a similar one last year which saw him run 44 marathons in the 44 European countries in as many days, is a circuitous one. Just three years ago, he almost gave up running after it began to have a negative effect on his personal life and mental health.

I just love it as an event. It goes through some amazing scenery, through the Alps, the Pyrenees. It's got something about it, a real iconic sporting raceThompson on the Tour de France

"I've been running for about 10 years. I did my first London marathon in 2009. I built on that year on year and it became a really big part of my life," Thompson says when we speak two months before the Tour de France run begins. As an ultra competitive person - "if I'd have broken the world record I would think that's not enough" - running began to control Thompson's life. "I was training upwards of 120 miles per week, running twice a day, no rest days. I was doing gym sessions too. I was fixated on getting better, and I was getting quicker, finishing the Amsterdam marathon in 2015 in 2hr 25min."

In retrospect, he realises the growing success was never enough: "Don't get me wrong, when I'd cross the finish line I'd be ecstatic. But it's so short-lived. The next day I have to get better." This single-mindedness led to alienation from his friends and contributed to a romantic breakup, which spurred him to change. "It took all that to happen for me to take a step back and think 'do I want to get quicker at running and alienate people I care about? Or do I want to do something about it?'" he explains.

After briefly considering stopping altogether, and feeling "lost", Thompson turned his passion for running into a positive – for his own mental health, and to raise awareness. Gone was the obsession with shaving his PBs, heart rate monitors and ultra-meticulous diets. In their place came running for the joy of running.

Then, in 2017, Thompson embarked on his European challenge. It was a huge struggle, hampered by injury, but one he got through with the help of strangers and running clubs across the continent. "I got a muscle problem in my quads. They just gave out. I only had 30pc of range of motion, and couldn't bend my leg much, I was scraping it on the floor. I definitely wasn't breaking any records!"

But he succeeded, raised £19,000, and decided he'd do something similar again. Which brings us to the Tour de France. How does he feel about increasing his daily output to 30 miles, and keeping that up for 70 days? "It's scary. I wish I'd said 80," he jokes.

There's no shortage of insane running challenges; Thompson himself was inspired by Ben Smith, a runner who completed an astounding 401 marathons in as many days. The Tour de France, however, holds a special place in his heart. "I just love it as an event. It goes through some amazing scenery, through the Alps, the Pyrenees. It's got something about it, a real iconic sporting race." Apart from the 70 days, he won't be timing himself, and his new girlfriend may even join. "She's not running, but will cycle a bit. We'll stay in campsites and B&Bs along the route."

Thompson now focuses on the many positives running can bring to mental health, while remaining cautious about taking it too far. "The benefits of just being outside are huge. It can give people focus, something to hold on to. There's such a community element now, which is a huge factor if you're struggling and you hide away. And doing exercise can have a knock-on effect on other aspects of your life, you might eat better, for example. It's an outlet."

Since his nadir in 2015, Thompson's runs have changed drastically - "the mindful aspect of running is something I try and do now." No more staring at his wrist to check the time: "It didn't used to matter where I'd run because it wasn't about anything other than the times. Now I take in my surroundings. I run more with friends, even if they're slow. It's a much better experience than being on your own."